Page 33 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

“Shh. It’s okay. Everything’s going to be alright. I’ve got you.” He untied the ropes and my arms scrambled to the floor in my attempt to make it to the toilet. The moment I broke around the closet door, I gagged again, barely making into the restroom before I became ill. Sweat drenched my sweater and I felt cold, even as I heaved and tried to brace myself on the floor. Vertigo overtook me, but I somehow managed to stay upright. My hair being pulled back barely registered. All I could see was darkness. I’d tried to brighten everything around me for so long, hoping it would help, but it hadn’t.

Shakily, my hand came up to flush. Chase’s fingers overlapped mine as he gave me the strength to push it down all the way.

“What the fuck happened to you?” He helped me to stand and I came face to face with the mirror sitting along the wall. A red tint stained my cheeks and neck as if I had a sunburn. I was so flushed and my hair was wet along the frame of my face from tears and sweat. Without realizing it, I reached for his shirt, pulling him toward me. I’d never needed anyone, but for the first time, I did.

Large arms hugged me close while I crumbled into a million pieces.

“Talk to me. What happened?”

For minutes, he stroked my hair, holding my weight up against him. I wiped the new stream of tears from my face and was surprised that he let me step back.

“Nothing happened. I’m afraid of the dark.”

My throat was so raw, I could barely speak. Exhaustion was taking over and I was weak from the lack of food or water. Dizziness rolled through me, causing me to shut my eyes. Chase had his arms back around me before I could open them.

“I think it’s more than that. Would you like to tell me why you’re so afraid? I’ll listen. Maybe I can help.”

I lowered my head to his chest and gave it a quick shake.

“Okay.” He repeated it once more, patting my back before he reached for the hem of my sweater. On impulse, I threw myself back, rushing with my footsteps. My legs connected with the tub and Chase grasped my sweater in his fist, barely catching me before I fell over the side. “Jesus, Kit.” Concern had him studying me and there wasn’t anything I could say to justify my actions.

“All I wanted to do was bathe you. You’re drenched.”

“I can do it myself.”

“I think you’ve been doing things on your own now for far too long. Let me help you. I want to,” he said lowly.

The sweater stretched as I tried to get further away from him, but there was nowhere to hide. “Don’t you think you’ve helped enough?”

Cold. Yes, I sounded so fucking hateful, but didn’t I have a right to be? Priest, or not. Unwanted savior, or not, I didn’t need to be rescued. Not by anyone.

“This is only the beginning. You may not want my protection. You may hate me before this is over with, but I’m not going to let you just walk away. Not until I know you’re safe.”

“I am safe, dammit. What is there for me to fear, going back to Florida? Do you seriously think my brother is going to hurt me? That’s stupid. He doesn’t give two shits about me. Obviously,” I said, throwing up my hand. “He’s all but forgotten who I am. And that sheriff? I’m sure he has more people to worry about than me. Besides, if he works for my brother, he probably thinks he has nothing to worry about. So tell me, Father, how am I not safe? If you ask me, the person I should be concerned about is you. You’re the one keeping me here against my will. Flogging me without my consent. Coming to me drunk while I was restrained and helpless. Tying me up and gagging me in your secret room of guns and money. It’s you I should be afraid of. You!”

“She has a point.”

Chase and I whipped around to the door to stare at Palo.

“Do you not know how to knock?” Although Chase’s voice was calm, the threat was clear.

“Just wanted you to know they’re gone. I put Kit’s new sandwich on the bed and even brought the two of you a drink.” The door closed behind Palo and Chase spun back around to me.

“You wanted me,” he ground out. “Don’t you dare say you didn’t. I may have been drunk, but you weren’t telling me to stop. If I recall, you were begging for more.”

My head dropped and I crossed my arms over my chest. “Can I take a shower now?”

“Admit it.”

“Fine. Yes, I wanted you. There.”

“And you still want me, don’t you?”

My head shot up and I stiffened as he moved closer. Those eyes…fuck, they were my undoing. He was beautiful, but those eyes had power over me.

“You don’t even have to speak, little one. I can read you like a book. Come eat. Then I’ll bathe you.”

Arguing was pointless. I was too hungry and beaten within to put up a fight. I hated my weakness, but I couldn’t go much longer on an empty stomach. Besides, the last thing I wanted was him coming too close to me again. I’d eventually cave. I knew it in my bones. As for him bathing me, I’d deal with that when the time came.

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